Picture hanger



April 23, '1929. H. A. slMsRoTT PICTURE HANGER 'Filed nec. 12, 1927 N@ ,M N

Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

gAralar OFFICE.`

HARRY A. SIMSROTT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PICTURE HANGER.

Application filed December 12, 1927. Serial No. 239,425.

This invention relates to improvements in picture hangers and more particularly to hangers for relatively large and heavy pictures which are hung on the walls of passageways and lobbies of theaters, hotels, and

y other public places.

Tl ese pictures, especially in theaters, are usually hung at theheight of the'average individuals so as kto be best displayed, and are thus in positions to be touched by the deservers and also to be hit or struck by individ uals and crowds passing them with the result that with hangers as heretofore employed the pictures are moved or shifted out of proper alignment and are often injured or damaged by being completely knocked from the walls, especially when the passageways in which the pictures are hung are overcrowded. Moreover, the help or employes of the theater, when cleaning the pictures or the wall portions behind them or both, move or shift the pictures out of line and sometimes knock them from place.

The main object of my invention is to provide hanger means by when the pictures are maintained in proper positions on the walls and will be automatically returned to such positions on being moved or shifted out of the same either by individuals or crowds hitting or striking them in passing or by the help when cleaning the pictures -or the wall portions behind them or both.

Another object of my invention is to provide hanger means which will permanently secure the pictures to the walls and thus prevent knocking the pictures from the walls as heretofore. l

l A further object of my invention is to provide hanger means which is simple in construction and inexpensive to make and which may be'readily and easily applied to the pictures and walls, respectively, by screws or bolts or other ordinary fastenings.

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings` Fig. l is a front view of a picture hung on the wall by the hanger means of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through one of the brackets and associated parts to show details of structure.

, expansion sprin In the dr wings, l indicates a framed picture and 2 the wall upon which the picture is hung.

The hanger means of my invention comprises a pair of bracket fixtures 3, 3 and a pair of suspension elements 4,4. The bracket fixtures 3, 3 are secured to the wall 2 and to the rear side of the picture frame adjacent its lower edge in horizontal spaced relation and serve to hold the picture on the wall at a horizontal. level at all times. The suspension elements Zl, 4 are secured to the rear side of the picture and to the wall 2 above the horizontal center of the picture and allow the picture to hang at an outward inclination from the wall 2 as required for the best display of the picture. The bracket fixtures 3,3 have resilient means which normally hold the picture onthe wall in proper horizontal alignment and automatically return the picture to such alignment should the picture be moved or shifted laterally from either side.

Each bracket 3 is preferably made from a metal strip having aflat body portion 5 and outturned ends G, 6. The body portion 5 is secured to the wall Q. by suitable fastening members 7, 7 which Amay be screwsor bolts. The projections 6, 6 are apertured to receive a tube or rod 8 which extends between them and which rod is supported by the projections outward from the body portion 5 in parallel relation thereto. The ends of the rod 9 extend slightly beyond the projections 6, 6 and are there provided with fasteners, which may -be in the form of Cotter-pins 9, 9 inserted through apertures in the rod to hold the latter from endwise movement in the projections.

Associated with the brackets 3 are screweye fasteners 10, l0, the threaded ends of which are screwed into the frame of the picture at the respective brackets, there being a screw-eye for each bracket. |The rods 8 of the brackets pass through the eyes of the fasteners 10 and thus provide a pivotal asA well as a sli dable support therefor.

The resilient means for each bracket 3 for normally holding the picture in proper horizontal alignment on the wall and for automatically returning the picture to such alignment when. shifted or moved laterally out of the saine, may take the form of a pair of coiled gs 11, ll which surround the rod 8 on opposite sides of the eye 10 and bear at their outer ends against the projec-` tions 6, 6 and at their inner ends either against the eye or against washers 12, 12, which. are-on opposite sides oil the eye 10. The springs 11 normally hold the eye 10 from sliding' on the rods, butgive when the eyes in the lateral shitting oi the picture are slid on the rods. rlhe washers 12 may be cupshape so as to receive the inner ends of the springs 11, 11 and thus prevent the same from hooking' on the eyes or engaging about the same Ato bind the springs or prevent 'lire turning .movementofthe eyes about the rod as the picture swung toward and from the wall.

Each suspensionelement 11 is composed of a stiff wire section 13, and a compression coiled spring` section 14. rlihe latter has one end hooked in an eye 15 which is secured to the frame of the `picture 1, and the other end of the springis hooked in an eye or loop at the adjacent end or the wire section 13. The other end of the latter is hooked in an eye 16 which is secured to the wall 2. 'lfhe spring` sections 14 expand when the picture is pulled outward `from the wall 2 beyond its normal inclined display position and return the picture back to that position when the picture is released from such outward pull.

iith the brackets 3 and suspension elements 4L lixedly secured to the wall 2 and to the frame oli-the picture, respectively, the picture is permanently attached to the wall and can not drop or be knocked from the same, thereby insuring the safety olthe picture. `Vith-thc brackets 3 fixed to the wall in 'horizontal alignment, the picture is always held or maintained at a horizontal level on the lwall -as no opportunity is aiiiorded for the picture to swing out oi'i'that position as when suspension cords or cables are used `to hang the picture as'lieretoiiore. Vitli the eyes 10, 10 on `the rods 8, the picture -may slide slightly when moved or shifted to the right or left against the tension o1 the springs 11, and the latter will automatically return the picture to its normal horizontal position as soon as the shitting force on the picture is released. Thus the hanger means of my invention will normally maintain the pictures in their proper horizontalpositions on the wall even though hit or struck by individuals passing them or when vmoved or shifted when cleaning them or the wall portions behind them or both.

The details oit structure and arrangement or parts shown and vdescribed may be variously changed and modified withoutdeparting r4from the spirit or scope of my invention. Moreover, the hanger means ot my inven tion is applicable to all pictures and is not limited -to 'those which are hung in public places. Furthermore, the hanger means of my invention may be also employed for hanging mirrors, plaques, and other devices of the Vpicture Variety on Walls, and in using these and similar devices.

l claim as my invention:

1. A picture hanger assembly, comprising ,means to be secured in horizontal position on a wall, means to be secured to the lower vportion ofthe picture and having pivotal and horizontal sliding connection with said first mentioned means, resilient means ior automatically returning Ythe picture "to its normal position when lslid laterally yout ofl the saine, and means for limiting the outward swing of the picture about its pivotal connection with said iirst means.

2. A picture hanger assembly, comprising brackets to be secured lin'lior'izontal s paced relation on a wall, 4rods carried Iby said brackets and disposed in substantially horizontal alignment, -members pivotally and slidably'mounted on said 'rods and adapted to be secured to the lowervportion ofthe picture for connecting` the sameto said rods, resilient means associated withsaid brackets and disposed to automaticallyl returnthe picture toits normal Apositionvon said rods when slid laterally on V'the same, and means for limiting `the outward swing of 'the picture on said rods.

8. A picture hangerassembly comprising brackets with outwardly 'projecting 'parts and to be secured in lhorizontal spaced relation on a wall, rods carried by said parts and disposed iii substantially horizontal Valignment, eye members pivotally and slidably mounted on said rods and adapted to be secured to the lower portionof the :picturefor connecting the same Ato said rods, coiled springs on said rods on opposite sides ofthe eye members forreturningthe pictureto its normal position on said'ro'ds when ,shifted or moved a'longthe same, and means for limiting the outward swling of the picture on said rods.

4. A picture hanger assembly, comprising means `to be secured to a wall-in 'horizontal position, means .to be connected with the lower portion oi the picture and having'pivotal and horizontal sliding connection with said irst mentioned means, resilient means for automatically returning the picture l-to -normal .position when moved or shiftedout of the same, and resilient elements to connect the upper portion of the picture with the wall.

5. A picture I'hanger assembly, comprising brackets with outwardly projecting parts and to be secured in horizontal spaced relation on a wall, rods-carried by said ,partsand disposed in substantially vhorizontal relation,

eye members pivotally and slidably mounted Y on said rods and adapted to connect the lower portion oi a picture thereto, coiled springs on said rods between said iparts and located' onv opposite sides of said eye members,

Washers on said rods on opposite sides of t-he eye members and being cup-shape to receive the inner ends of said springs, and connectors With coiled springs to connect the upper portion of the picture With the Wall.

6. A centering device of the character described7 comprising a bracket having out- Wardly projecting parts, a rod extending between and supported by said parts, a member slidably mounted on said rod between said parts, and resilient means co-operating with said member for normally holding the latter in normal position on the rod.

7. lThe combination With a picture and a Wall, of a hanger for mounting the picture on the Wall, said hanger having means to be secured in horizontal position on one of the parts, means to be secured to the other part and having horizontal sliding connection With said irst mentioned means, and means for automatically returning the picture to its normal position when slid laterally out of the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY A. SIMSROTT. 

